NEWTOWN -- A shopping center that languished during the Great Recession is seeing a renewed interest from tenants.

Bob Cascella, an agent with Goodfellow Real Estate who represents the property on the site of the former Fireside Inn, said they've signed several new leases for the original building and have several businesses interested in a new 22,000-square-foot retail building completed about six months ago.

Businesses that have already signed leases include Soho Pizza, which has a location in Danbury, Yoga Dimensions and the Core Fitness Health Club. The MediSpa, which was already in the building, also is expanding and more than doubling its space in the plaza.

"The good news is that has been a lot of positive activity surrounding the site and a lot of interest from potential tenants," Cascella said. "I expect to see more leases signed by the end of the year."

Other businesses interested in the site, he said, including medical uses and an IT company. The plaza is home to Fusion 25, an Asian-fusion restaurant that opened about two years ago, and Butcher's Best Market.

Leasing rates for the property are about $20 per square foot depending on the required tenant fit-out and other variables. It's a rate that's consistent with other developments along the Route 25 corridor in southern Newtown.

Developers of the project had purchased the former inn and renovated the structure for retail uses around 2008, when the economy soured. Two years ago, the developer, Ridgefield resident Michael Breede, decided to complete the project.

"The economy was starting to improve and the goal was to clean up the site in the hopes of attracting new tenants," Cascella said. "In less than six months we've signed four new tenants. That's pretty good for Newtown."

Tim Haas, president of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, said he is always happy to see vacant space -- especially newly renovated or constructed buildings -- that fill up with new tenants.

"It's great to see vacant spaces attracting new quality tenants who are adding value and new services to the town," he said.

Haas and Cascella said they've seen an uptick in interest from retailers and other businesses looking to locate in Newtown.

"It's still not anywhere near where it was six years ago but we are seeing more interest today than in the past five years," Cascella said.

Haas said leasing activity in town is returning in "measured moderation."

"Houses prices are still down and there are families that are still feeling a lot of pain because of the economy," he said. "But the buzz is that businesses are taking a good look at Newtown."